Old photo of S&W sixguns

Win 38-55

Win 38-55

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
42   0   0
Below is a photo sent to me by another Canadian collector of old Model 3 S&W's. Both photos are supposed to have been taken around 1885 and are of men who were part of the Rocky Mountain Rangers, a Canadian paramilitary force that fought against the 2nd Indian/Metis uprising (Riel Rebellion) in the mid-1880's. Given the date of the photo, and the knuckle on the backstrap (clearer in my friend's original) and the likelyhood that the trigger spur would not have been too popular with these fellows (an assumption given the different type of holster required), I'm guessing they are New Model #3's, but the fellow on the left might have a DA. The barrel on the right seems extra long for a NM#3.

Two-Toughs.jpg
 
Yes I can confirm both these men took part in the Riel Rebellion Henry Boyle and his brother were transplanted Englishmen and so was Stewart and both would have had enough money to buy the latest gear. Stewart owned and operated a ranch and supplied horses to the NWMP. Not sure if both the pictures are from 1885 but must be pretty close.
 
Last edited:
That Boyle guy looks like a serious fellow!

I like his Jacket and have one very simlar.
Hard to tell what them guns are from them pics tho.
 
Stewart definitely has a Smith of some sort in his holster but as to whether it's a double action or a single action I do not know the look of the Smiths well enough to be able to tell just from the grips. he jacket Stewart has looks like one of the many types of patrol jackets that Brit. officers would purchase privately. The ammo belt around his shoulder probably has .45-75 rounds in it, the RMR were armed with the 1876 Winchester from government stores. I can't tell what Boyle has.
 
Last edited:
I might be wayy off base here but the way the light hits Boyle's gun just behind the hammer makes it look flat... more like a Colt thunderer than the curved (with slight knuckle) shape of a SW. Further, the way the holster fits the gun hints at an outline similar to a Colt. When I look at the light on the holster showing the outline of the top of the gun it seems to be a bit different over the topstrap and with darker lighting over the barrel...The SW's were solid from hammer to barrel so the lighting should show the same for the entire length...Just my guess.

As for the Major's SW...something about it makes me think double action as well.
 
The fellow who sent me the photocopy has the best quality, and his assessment is that these are S&W Model 3's probably NM#3's (or maybe DA's?) My photocopy is still better quality than the scanned photo you can see on this thread. Looking at my photocopy, Boyle's gun has a clear and unmistakable knuckle behind the hammer, and the grip has the same curve as Stewart's gun. The holster comes up almost to the hammer, but I can't tell if the dark area just down from the hammer is the top-break latch, or the top of the holster. If these fellows are Englishmen with some dollars to properly equip themselves, then my guess is that they would have gone for the sixgun that had recently become famous by setting accuracy records, the NM#3. The DA, so I've been told by Jim Supica, would not have been chosen for accuracy.
 
Neat that British Indian Fighters were packing American guns at around the same time General Custard was lying beside a webley.

I bet accuracy mattered to those guys!
 
I dont know about that Comment by Jim supica!
Ive had S&W DA 44 Russians with 6.5 inch Barrels and they were as good a tack driver as any other gun ive got.
They shoot high but 2 inch or less groups have been shot consistantly with the one i had at 25 yds.
It even had a few pits in and otherwise minty bore.

I think with the Thunder and the colt 1892s its a matter of trying Diffrent bullets and charge till you get one the gun likes.
Billy the Kid packed a Thunder or Lightning one of the two so they cant of been that un accurate.

Dont forget a brand new un worn bore with mint Rifleings gona shoot better than 140 year old worn rifleing. ;)
 
dingus said:
I think with the Thunder and the colt 1892s its a matter of trying Diffrent bullets and charge till you get one the gun likes.

Dont forget a brand new un worn bore with mint Rifleings gona shoot better than 140 year old worn rifleing. ;)
Click to expand...


True enough. Thats where most people give up...its a long process to find out what the gun likes. In my first trials the best i could get was 8" groupings at 25 yards with heeled bullets and BP. Second trials got 3-4" groupings at 25 yards with BP and hollow based inside lubed bullets. Amaizingly it was stacking shots at 15 yds using a rest.

When I was match shooting with a custom made walther target gun 10+ years ago i could easily take out the push pins that held the targets at 20yds...big difference when compared to a gun designed to shoot the guy accross the faro table.

Ive read that Doc Holliday may have carried a thunderer in his days as well.

BTW...sorry to change the subject of this thread...back to the SW's in the photos
 
I think i need to clarify my comment on the accuracy of the Colt thunderer...its only an issue because of the caliber...as most of you already know, the 41long colt wasnt known for accuracy. The model 1878 is a great gun IMHO...I own one and of all the antiques ive been thruogh its by far my favorite.:)
 
Ya i didnt think to much of my 1892 and 1889 Colts i had in 41 Caliber as far as accuracy.
Good to about 15 Yds with the loads i had at the time.

BUT i sold them and a fellow in northern B.C is getting 2 inch groups at 25 yds and impresive 800 FPS loads outa the 1892 i sold him. :eek:

It took him awhile but he didnt give up bought some custom rapine mold. there very well made solid frame colt with the swing out cylinder.

I think the big thing is to keep trying till you get it right. ;)

As far as the DA S&W maby i was just lucky but really they were great guns and DA is great if a bear chews off your Thumbs what good is a SA really :D
 
dingus said:
As far as the DA S&W maby i was just lucky but really they were great guns and DA is great if a bear chews off your Thumbs what good is a SA really :D
Click to expand...

What kinda bears chew off only your thumbs...:p

SA is nice for the target...DA would work for that thumb chewing bear. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom